Basic White Bread for Beginners
A simple recipe for beginners yields two delicious loaves of white bread.
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Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375°F.
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Heat 1 cup milk and 2 tbsp butter until melted; set aside to cool.
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Combine 1/2 cup warm water with yeast, stirring continuously, and set aside for 5 minutes.
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Mix sugar, salt, and 1 cup warm water in a large bowl.
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Add the cooled milk/butter mixture and the yeast mixture to the large bowl, then mix.
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Gradually mix in bread flour, one cup at a time, until the dough becomes stiff.
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Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead, adding flour as needed, until smooth and not sticky.
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Grease a large bowl, place the dough inside, and turn it to coat.
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Cover and let rise at room temperature for about 1 hour until doubled in size.
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Punch down the dough, then turn onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes to remove air bubbles.
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Divide the dough in half, shape each portion into a rectangle, and roll tightly into a loaf.
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Pinch seams and tuck edges securely.
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Grease two loaf pans, adding cornmeal if desired.
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Place loaves in pans, cover, and let rise for about 30 minutes until doubled.
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Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
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Remove from oven and transfer loaves to a cooling rack.
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Cool completely before slicing.